Daemon (novel series)

Daemon and Freedom TM a two-part novel by the author Daniel Suarez about a distributed, persistent computer application, The Daemon , that begins to change the real world after the original programmer’s death.

Plot

After Matthew A. Sobol, a brilliant computer programmer and CTO of Cyberstorm Entertainment, Daemon is activated. Sobol, dying of brain cancer, was fearful for humanity and began to envision a new world order. The Daemon becomes his tool to achieve that vision. The Daemon’s first mission is to kill two programmers Joseph Pavlos and Chopra Singh who worked for CyberStorm Entertainment and unknowingly helped in the creation of the Daemon.

The program secretly takes over Hundreds of companies and Provides financial and computing resources for recruiting real world agents and Creating AutoM8s ( computer controlled driverless cars , used as transportation and occasionally as weapons), Razorbacks (sword-wielding robotic riderless motorcycles, SPECIFICALLY designed as weapons ) and other devices. The Daemon also creates a secondary online web service, hidden from the general public, dubbed the Darknet , which allows Daemon operatives to exchange information freely.

What follows is a series of interlocking stories following the main characters:

Detective Pete Sebeckis called to investigate the death of Pavlov. However, when the connection is made between two programmers and Cyberstorm, the FBI takes over by Agent Decker. For being the first authority figure in the investigation, the Daemon Selects Sebeck against his will to serve the Daemon, which frames Sebeck for its creation as a multi-million scheme and a hoax. The US government, knowing the truth, fasttracks Sebeck’s trial and executes him eight months later. Sebeck’s having an affair, but his son Chris is estranged, and he proclaims his innocence while dying from lethal injection. However, Sebeck later awakens to learn that the Daemon faked his death and assigned him the task to prove that humanity deserves its freedom from the Daemon.

Jon Ross , a Russian hacker and identity thief, is questioned by the FBI and brought to the investigation by Sebeck. Unfortunately, traditional investigation methods are used against Sobol’s Daemon program. Ross eventually deduces that the Daemon can anticipate their every move, seemingly one step ahead of anyone who tries to interfere with its operation. Even after being named in the Daemon hoax, Ross willingly helps the US government to stop the program. Assigned to the NSA’s anti-Daemon task force, with Agent Phillips, he is a firsthand witness to Loki’s attack on the installation and barely survives the massacre that follows. With his immunity deal rescinded, he’s vanishing underground with the intent on destroying the Daemon on his own.

Agent Roy “Tripwire” MerrittA decorated FBI agent is brought to secure by Sobol’s property, when several FBI agents and police officers are killed by an automated Hummer that attacks anyone who approaches. A longtime military officer and expert in hostage situations, he realizes that Sobol’s estate is a death trap and red herring. His team is quickly killed, and he remains the lone survivor, infiltrating the house and accidentally triggering a bomb, which levels the property. Blamed for the failure, he is relieved of the duty of the major. When Loki is revealed to have infiltrated the building, Roy pursues him, against orders. Fearful of the publicity that the chase will generate, Major kills Roy himself.

NSA Agent Natalie Philips , a genius workaholic government cryptographer. Phillips joins the investigation shortly after the FBI is called in. Eventually, she is placed in charge of the anti-Daemon task force, but she finds plenty of interference from the Major. She is attracted to Jon Ross (the attraction is mutual), but she soon states that national security will take precedence and their relationship will remain professional. Phillips objects to the murder of Sebeck to protect infected corporate systems from the Daemon’s wrath. One of a handful of survivors from Loki’s attack, Phillips is blamed for the failure and relieved of duties.

Brian Graggaka “Loki Stormbringer” is a sociopathic loner and avid gamer. He makes a living through identity theft and other cyber crimes. After running afoul of some hackers from the Philippines, he lets his partner in crime, Jason Heider, to be killed in his place. Needing to lie low, Loki is recruited by the Daemon by Sobol’s games. Loki is the first of the most powerful operatives. His behavior, though useful to the Daemon, is hated and feared by Darknet members. His first major act is to infiltrate the anti-Daemon task force. When found out, he quickly triggers an attack, which leaves most of the people and agents there dead. He is pursued by Roy Merritt, as he escapes and witnesses the Major executing Roy,

The Major , unnamed throughout the series, is a secret DOD binding assigned to the daemon task force. Soon, everyone who encounters him realizes that his history is checkered, and his loyalty remains with the military-industrial complex now under attack by the Daemon. When Loki massacres the task force, he quickly contains the situation by destroying all evidence (including leveling the building) and personally executing Roy Merritt, fearful that Merritt’s pursuit of Loki will attract too much attention. Realizing that they have underestimated the Daemon and its network, the Major retreats and prepares to wage a secret war against the Daemon and its agents.

Anji Anderson is a recently fired reporter. Having been relegated to the fluff of the day, she is quickly recruited as a Daemon Operator, and her job to investigate the facts that the Daemon and help push its propaganda. Her main effect in the story is to help Sebeck. She will become the spokesman for the Daemon.

Charles Moseley is a drug trainer and convicted killer recruited by the Daemon, which helps him to escape. With a new identity, he travels to a Daemon-controlled office where he is interrogated by the Daemon’s AI and is deemed acceptable to serve. He will become a security operative, assigned to these executing criminals, participating in massive worldwide murder of spammers who corrupt the internet. Mosley’s only request is for the Daemon to locate his missing son and protect him. Ray is a family of parents, who will raise and educate Ray in a safe family-like setting.

Dutton purchase

On June 25, 2008, the Dutton imprint of the Penguin Group purchased this Daemon and the rights to the sequel Freedom ™ from Verdugo Press. [1] Dutton has worth more than $ 1 million.

Movie adaptation

Walter F. Parkes , who produced the 1983 movie WarGames , had the option of the movie rights to Daemon with Paramount Pictures , [2] but they are likely to be reverted to Suarez on December 8, 2012. [3]